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The Halloween Gambit

One of my favorite things to play as white is called the Halloween Gambit.  It is a unorthordox opening that gives up some material to make sure that the white player gets rapid and i mean rapid development and a agressive pawn structure.  This defense has its roots in the four knights defense but you could transpose but it's not the best.  The gambit start out 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6  3.Nc3 Nf6 (this is one way to get there.) 4.Nxe5.  This offers the Knight for the development. Black accepts with 4...Nxe5 5.d4 and here Black has two feasable options and they are Nc6, and Ng6. Here is what it looks like.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the two best moves.  If they play Ng4 you simply play e5 to make the black player to lose a knight.


Hope that you enjoyed this

Comments


  • 22 months ago

    slvnfernando

    Will have success in blitz possibly!

  • 3 years ago

    Humness

    WHAT? how come no one plays this it is so obvious and better for white:

    and ofcourse on the other hand white turns out worse with sensible play from the opponent and then the sacrifice counts for nill as such:
    But then again these are individual plays and it might differ with player to player but for me all the above seems logical.
  • 3 years ago

    gxtmf1

    Reminds me of King's Gambit: Muzio Gambit
  • 3 years ago

    PavleKosic

    Black have even better continuation then your post.

     

  • 3 years ago

    MikeRoesell

    Chessrd.  I have had amazing success in the games that i have played with this gambit.  I have not however found a way to play alot of games.  The reason being that i dont know how to force someone into the four knights defense.  I have won three and lost the fourth. they were 10 0 blitz time controls and this is where you want to play the gambit like this.  I will be looking for a chance to play it on the 11th when i have my next 20 0 tournament. The thing that guys haven't hit on is the reason that this gambit is a bit dubious.  Here it is

  • 3 years ago

    chessrd

    Mike, how much success have you had with the gambit in longer time limits?  I like white's position, but Black still has chances.  With your original variation with Ng6, Black could try for a Queenside attack after a few maneuvers.  Still, it's interesting.

  • 3 years ago

    PavleKosic

    U underestimeting blacks moves here is how I see it.

  • 3 years ago

    MikeRoesell

    Here's what i think would be right for your line.

     

  • 3 years ago

    PavleKosic

    I wanted to say that Black is 90procent better but that I like it as an element of suprise, and I think that in blitz game it could go very well, although I wouldnt play it in corespodance or longer time limits.

  • 3 years ago

    MikeRoesell

    what do you mean by secrten

  • 3 years ago

    PavleKosic

    I meant Italian game, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 3. Bc5

  • 3 years ago

    MikeRoesell

    what do you mean by the italian.

  • 3 years ago

    PavleKosic

    I am almost secrten that its not good but I like it anyway. I dont realy play four knights game, becouse I always go to Italian, but this realy made me think that its quite playable,especialy on blitz games. Good post, nice gambit.

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